Picker control for automatic looms



July 26, 193s.

H. D. JOHNSON, JR., ET AL PICKER CONTROL FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS Filed Dec. l2., 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 www. .NI

@u .NNN ----5 NM INVENTORS' J July 26, 1938. H, D. .JoHNsoN, JR.. ET A1. 2,124,978

PICKER CONTROL FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS Filed Deo. 12, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 26, 1938. H. D. JoHNsoN, JR., ET AL 2,124,978

PICKER CONTROL FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS 5 sheets-sheet 3v Filed Dec 1NVENTOR5 MMV /v ATTORNEY? July 26, 1938.

H. D. JOHNSON. JR., El' AL PICKER CONTROL FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS Filed Dec. 12, 1 936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS' f/EA/,es/ E. Jah/Naan Je wppoeufjr T. ff/Ll /V Julyv26, 1938. H. D. JOHNSON. JR., ET AL 2,124,978

PICKER CONTROL FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS Filed Dec. 12, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 o@ @m m Jr .F

l. @c ll. {.Qw 1 mw Patented July 26, 1938 y UNITE STATES PICKER CONTROL FOR. AUTOMATIC LOOMS Henry Downer Johnson, Jr., and Woodrui T. Sullivan, Norwich, Conn., assignors to J. B. Martin Company, Norwich, Qonn., a. corporation of Delaware Application December 12, 1936, Serial No. 115,462

7 Claims.

shuttle box unit or carrier changing arrange-v ment for a double shuttle loom. The shuttle box unit changing mechanism shown in Patent No. 2,017,065 may also be operated with a single shuttle loom.

Although not a preferred application, the picker control arrangement of the present invention is also applicable to looms in which thel shuttle or box or shuttles or boxes are subject to being shifted during weaving operation to change the colors or character of the filler.

In general, in looms the shuttle or shuttles on entering the box or boxes on either side of the lay structure after traversing the shed, are slowed in their movement by the brakes or swells associated with the box structure and are then finally stopped by the picker or pickers.

When stopped, the spurs of the shuttle or shuttles will be received in depressions or re- 'cesses in the pickers'.

When the shuttle or shuttles are to be changed either because of exhaustion or because it is desirable to substitute another type of ller, this change most desirably should take place after the shuttles have been stopped by the pickers.

`To assure a most satisfactory change of the shuttles, it is necessary that the recesses in the pickers be removed from the spurs of the shuttles, 'and since only a limited time is available for 4g changing the shuttles, this change should take place as promptly as possible.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved control mechanism which will be promptly and automatically actu- 45 ated to release the pickers, when the shuttles are to be changed and which may be readily attached to or associated with looms ofstandard construction. y

Another object is to provide the method of C) controlling pickers incidental to shuttle-changing or transferring in automatic looms which will assure that the shuttles be released from the pickers shortly before the shuttle changing mechanism is actuated.

Other objects will be obvious or will appear during the vcourse of the following specification.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most desirable that the shuttle changing mechanism and picker release mechanism be substantially actuated at about the same time by the indicating mechanism, which indicates the 'change of shuttles shouldvtake place either because of exhaustion of the filler therein or becausel'of the need for change of ller.

vAccording to one form,'the picker upon' indication is moved inwardly to stop the shuttles in front of their usual stopping position. As soon as the shuttles have been stopped, the picker is then moved away so as to altogether release the spur or spurs thereof and permit the shuttle or shuttles to be readily changed.

At the same time, the picker will be out of the way so that the new shuttles may conveniently drop into yoperating position.

According to one embodiment, which has been found to lbe satisfactory, the picker stick, the upper end of which is received in a slot in the picker or pickers is provided with a plunger and lever control mechanism, which in turn may be actuated by a latch arrangement connected with the crank connector.

The latch arrangement is normally disengaged y during the intervals between changes of shuttles. However, when a shuttle change is indicated, the latch is caused to engage the Alever control by a solenoid and the lever control operated to move the pickers in and stop the shuttles ahead of their normal stopping position. Then the picker is returned to the original position to permit the shuttle change to take pla-ce.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detailed description When taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and will illustrate the preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.I

In the drawings:

Figures 1 to 3a. illustrate diagrammatically the operation of the picker control mechanism of the present application; Figures 1, 2 and 3 being side views of the lay and its actuating crank in successive positions during the actuation of the picker and Figures la, 2a and 3a being corresponding front views showing the boxes on both sides of the loom.

Figure 4 is a side view of the lay end structure at its rearmost position.

Figure 5 is a front view of the lay end structure upon the line 5-5 of Figure 4 with the lay end at its foremost'position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side view similar Figure 8 is a fragmentary side view of a por-V tion of the lay-end structure similar to that shown in Figure 4, but upon enlarged scale and showing in detail the picker control mechanism.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an oblique sectional view on the line III- IU of. Figure 8.

Figure 1l is a fragmentary sectional view on the line II-'II of Figure 7, showing the inside faceof the pickers.

Figure 12 is a top view of the indicating bo at the side of the-loom opposite that from which the change takes place.

Figure 13 is a, transverse sectional view upon enlarged scale upon the line I3-I3 of Figure 12.

Figures 14 and 15 are respectively fragmentary top and side sectional views upon the lines I4- I4 of Figure 15 .and |5-I5 of Figure 14, respectively illustrating the manner in which indication is made when the filler is exhausted.

In Figures 1 to 3a, inclusive, is diagrammatically shown one method of controlling a picker according to the present invention incidental to a change of shuttles, so that the shuttles may be stopped and the pickers may be withdrawn therefrom before the change of shuttles, with the assurance that the changing operation will not be delayed or prevented from taking place due to the spurs of the shuttle remaining engaged with the pickers.

In Figures l to 3a, is shown diagrammatically the operation of the picker control of the present invention as applied to a double shuttle loom for weaving velvets in which the change is caused to take place when the filler is exhausted in one or both of the shuttles.

However, it is understood that the invention is applicable to single shuttle changing looms and other multiple shuttle looms where the shuttle or shuttles are to be changed either to insert a different type of lling or because of exhaustion.

Referring to Figures l to 3a, inclusive, the lay A carries the indicating shuttle box B and the change shuttle box C. The shuttles E are thrown transversely between the indicating box B and This indication will energize the solenoid or other control device, elevating the latch H carried by the latch arm to cooperate with the lever I.

Din'ing the arc K, as indicated at Figure l, the shuttles E will remain or dwell in the indicating box B.

Then, as the lay crank moves away from the lay iront position of Figure 1, the latch H will engage the lever I. The lever I will in turn cause movement of the picker stick G and the pickers N will be moved inside of the normal position of Figure 1a. They will then be withdrawn and as they are being withdrawn, they will meet and stop the shuttles at the end of the pick indicated bv the arc P in Figure 2.

The movement of the pickers N will' continue until these pickers have substantially removed themselves from the ends of the shuttles E, as indicated in Figure 3a, and finally, as indicated in Figure 3, the latch I-I will drop out of engagement withv the lever `I.

The shuttles B then may be pushed, dropped or elevated out of position according to the type of change, which it lis desired to accomplish.

In Figures 4V to 7, is shown the 'application of the picker control of the present invention to the. release of the` shuttles in a' replaceable double shuttle box of the type shown in Johnson and Sullivan Patent No. 2,017,065 to which, however the invention is by no means restricted.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the loom struc- 'ture I0 carries the shaft II and the shaft II in turn carries the crank plate L.

The crank plate connector I2 is pivotally. conneoted to the crank, as indicated at I3. The other end of the crank connector is pivotally connected at I4 to a bracket I5-attached to the lay end structure.

`Referring to Figure 5, the lay A is provided with the race I6 carried bythe lay swords I1 which swords are supported on the rocker shaft I8. The rocker shaft I8 is pivotally mounted at I9 in the loom frame IIJ.

The shuttles normally move `across the lay A above the race I6 and in front of the reed 2|. After the shuttles have passed across the race or vshed the reed 2| advances to beat up the filling into the fell position.

Carried on the end of the lay A is a U-frame structure 22 which guides'and carries the elevator structure 23. The elevator structure is provided with a seriesof supporting rods 24, 25 and 26 whichrrespectively move in the support sleeves 21, 28 and 29. The support sleeves 21 to 29 are carried at their lower ends by the frame 30 on the rocker shaft I8.

In the construction shown, two shuttles are carried in each of the shuttle boxes C and 32, which are provided with tongues 33 shown in Figure 7, fitting in grooves 34 in the side plates 35 of the U-frame structure 22.

The shuttles E of the shuttle box B, when exhausted, give an indication at the indicating box B, shown in Figure la and set in motion a mechanism, which actuates the elevator 23 through the chain 23a and pulleys 23b, the changing mechanism being more fully shown in said Patent No. 2,017,065.

'lhe box C is rst released and then lowered from its operating position (see Figure 5) by the elevator 23, which releases pins 23e (see Figure 11) holding said operating box C. The pins 23e are released by contact between the cam element 36 on the elevator 23 and the lever contact 31.

As the elevator lowers the operating box C, the reserve box 32 in the U-frame 22 will slide downwardly into operating position and be postioned by the pins 23e. As the elevator lowers the exhausted shuttle' box C, its cam 36 will next contact the lever 38, which through a link 39 and the L-lever 40, actuates a jaw member 4I to grasp and .thereby shift the lowermost reserve box 33 in the magazine frame 42 of! the holding members 3| and into the U-frame structure 22.

The operation of this changingmechanism, and transfer of shuttle boxes C from'operating position, 32 into operating position and 33 from the magazine frame v42 to the U-shaped lay frame 22 is more fully described in said Patent No. 2,017,065.

The picker stick G (see Figure 5) is provided with a quadrant 83 receiving the strap 44, which strap when suddenly pulled inwardly throws the stick G to the right.

The picker stick 4G is pivotally mounted at 45 upon the ear 46 extending inwardly from the frame 3U.

vThe return spring 4l tends to thro'w the picker stick to the left, in the direction indicated by the arrow 48 (see Figure 5).

The upper end of the picker stick is received in the slots 49 in the webs 50 of the pickers N each of which pickers is provided with a bored rear enlargement 5i sliding upon the guide rods 52 and a front enlargement 53 which acts to stop the spurs 54 of the shuttles E (see Figures 7 and 11).

This enlargement 53 normally acquires a depression or recess 55 from which the shuttles must be removed before a change operation may be satisfactorily accomplished and it is to a control to accomplish such release that the present invention is particularly directed.

Referring to Figures 4 to 6, the rod J carrying the latch H is connected to the crank connector I2 by the clamp 15. I

The end I6 of the'rod J is received in the openings in the ears 11 and 84 (see particularly Figure 8). 'Ihe ear 11 is pivotally connected at 18 to the clevis r'I9 at the lower end of the armature 80 of the solenoid 8|.

The solenoid 8l is energized through the wires 82 and'when energized, it lifts the rod J and this occurs when an indication has been given at the indicating boxr B (see Figure 1a) that the lling is exhausted in one or both of the shuttles.

The rod- J will normally be in lowered position and the latch H will ride through the opening 86 in the ear 84 withoutengagement.

When the rod J is elevated and is moved rearwardly, preparatory to change, however, the latch or tooth structure H will latch in the recess 83 in the ear 84, thus being retained in position.

The ear 88 is rigid with the lever I. The upper part of the lever I is provided with the -offset flange 8l, whichhas an extension B8 carrying the solenoidsiii. The lever vI is carried by the bearing annulus 89 which isfreceived on the'V pivot @il attached to the end member 9i of the 98 which are bolted or riveted, as indicated at 815 to the U-'frame or lay end structure 28. The arm 95 of the lever I is provided with an upstmding Hang? 95 at its end (See Figures 8 nected to the picker stick G (see' Figure 5) willV j have moved the picker stick back to its normal n position, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figf ure 2a and the pickers N back to their solid line In the path of movement of the flange 96 and normally spaced therefrom by the space S to provide lost motion, is the head 98 of the push rod 99. The push rod passes through an opening in the extension it@ from the bracket 92. The extension iiiil also serves'as a reaction member for the springs 91! and ita encircling the rod 99 on opposite sides of said plate iilil.

The other end of the push rod 99 is provided with a contact memberiili which upon inward movement of the rd 99 presses upon the plate im on the side of the picker stick G.

95a (see Figure 9) contacting with the elements 95h when the lever I is in its normal retracted position.

In operation, in the intervals between changes of shuttles, the solenoid 8i of Figure 8 will be deenergized and the rod J in its lowermost position will` ride in the bottom of the eye 86 in the ear or flange 84.

During this operation, the pickers N will be in the solid line position, as indicated in Figure 7, and the shuttles E will be stopped with their spurs 54 engaging the recesses 55 in the pickers N.

When an indication is made at the indicating box B of Figures 1a to 3a to cause a change in shuttles, thisl indication will cause energization of the solenoid 8i, as shown in Figure 8, elevating the armature and the rod J.

This indication will occur during the dwell of the shuttl s in the indicating box B and during the arc indicated in Figure l. When the rod J moves rearwardly and the junction point 15 moves upwardly along the curve 20|, the latch H will engage with the lever I, the tooth H hooking into the recess 83 in the downwardly extending ear or flange 84 of the lever I at crank position a of Figure 4.

Then, the rod J will pull the lever I so as to move it in the direction indicated by the arrow I 03 in Figure 9.-

After suiicient movement to take up the space S (Figure 9)the flange 96 will contact the rod 99 at position b of Figure 4 and will push the rod 99 inwardly to pressthe picker stick from the dotted line position tothe solid line position :speed and will continue to move until position f is reached.

Although the solenoid 5l may be deenergized after the end of the arc K of Figure 1, during the latter part of the arc K and the arc P, the

engagement of the latch H with thev recess 83 will be maintained as the rod J is being drawn back by the connector i2 against the spring 91 and the junction point l5 moved upwardly as indicated by the arrow 2M.

After the shuttles have been stopped in the boxil, at'th'e change side of the loom. the rod J will be released at the position g (Figure 4) as the junction point 'i5 moves downwardly along rthe larc 299.

position ofFigure 7 with the result that the pickers N will be altogether disengaged from the spurs 58 of the shuttles E.

By this operation, the'pickers contact the incoming shuttles as they are moving slowly outwardly and then this returning or reverse movement picks up speed until the pickers have left the shuttlespurs or points free.

It is necessary to select such lever ratios and lost movement between the lever and the push rod actuating the picker stick that there is a quick withdrawal movement of the pickers after the shuttles have been stopped by the withdrawing pickers.

The change of shuttles or of the shuttle box C may now take place without difficulty with assurance that the shuttles will be altogether disengaged from the pickers.

In Figures 12 to 15, is shown one type of indicating mechanism which may be employed in connection with the box B shown in Figures la to 3a.

However, it is to be understood that many other types of indicating mechanisms may be employed.

Referring to Figurer, u to 15, in Figure 12, the shuttles E are shown in position in the shuttle box structure B with the spurs 54 of the shuttles fitting into the pickers M. These pickers M receive the upper end of the picker stick F in the slots 49' and they are operated in the same manner as the picker stick G and pickers N.

As shown in Figure 13, each shuttle E is provided with metal plates |24, |25 which contact the noses |26 of the push rods |21 sliding in the sleeves |28. The noses are normallyv pressed against said plates 24, |25 by the coil springs |29.

The sleeves |28 are supported by the brackets |38 upon the exterior of the shuttle box structure B and electrical connections may be made to them as indicated at |40. The electrical connections may be extended to actuate the solenoid 8| of Figure 8 and also the shuttle changing mechanism of Figure 5 directly or indirectly.

As indicated in Figures 14 and 15, each shuttle VE receives a quill or cop |3| carryingthe ller |32.

The quill or cop |3| is received upon the mount |33 which is pivotally connected at |34 to the shuttle structure. l

Received in the slot |35 in the mount |33 is the latch member |36 which is pivotally mounted at |31 and which is normally pressed upwardly by the leaf spring |38. The lling, as indicated at |39, before exhaustion, holds said latch |36 down inside of the slot |35 and inside of the quill |3|.

As indicated in Figure 14, the contact plate |24 is'connected by the wire-14| to the pivot mount |34, which is in turn electrically connected to the latch |36. The pin |42, on the other hand, extends across the latch |36, and is electrically co`nnected to the other plate |25.

In operation, therefore, when the filler |39 has been exhausted, the latch |36 will be released and will snap up into contact with the pin |42 and establish a circuit between the plates |24 and 625.

When the shuttle or shuttles E are thrown home into the indicating box B, a current will then iiow between the leads |46, energizing the solenoid 8| of Figure 8 through the leads 82 and also causing a change operation to take place. In this change operation, the elevator 23 is lowered with the exhausted shuttle box CI or if desired, the exhausted shuttles may be ejected or removed from position in the shuttle box C and replaced with fresh shuttles or shuttles containing different types of ller, which it is desired to employ.

It is thus apparent that the present application discloses a picker control method and arrangement which gives assurance that the spurs of the shuttles will be released from the pickers prior to the change operation without the necessity of delaying the change operation to cause such release.

It is also apparent that this is accomplished by utilizing the indicating mechanism customarily associated with the lay structure without the necessity of substantially modifying the structure of the lay or of the loom.

It is apparent that the specific illustrations shown above have been given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that the structures above described are subject to Wide variation and modification Without departingrom the scope or intent of the invention all of which variations and modications are .to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A picker control mechanism for shuttle box change looms, said looms being of the type which have an indicating box to receive the shuttles at one side of the loom, said boxes being provided with electrical feeler mechanisms and with a circuit connected to said feeler mechanisms, which is closed when the weft is almost exhausted and having a changing box at the other side of the loom in which the shuttles are received when thrown from said indicating box across the shed, which changing box is replaced by another changing box having fresh shuttles when the weft is exhausted upon the operating shuttles, which comprises means for moving the pickers on the change side of the loom inside of their normal position to stop the shuttles inside of their normal stopping position, means actuated by closure of said circuit to actuate said last mentioned means, and means for returning the pickers and moving them out' i wardly from the shuttles after the shuttles have -box change looms, said looms being of thetype which have an indicating box to receive the shuttles at one side of the loom, said boxes being provided with electrical feeler mechanisms and with a circuit connected to said feeler mechanisms, which is closed when the weft is almost exhausted vand having a changing box at the other side of the loom in which the shuttles are received when thrown from said indicating box across the shed, which changing box is replaced by another changing boxV having fresh shuttles when the weft is exhausted upon the operating shuttles, and having pickers and picker sticks which comprises means actuated only upon closure of said circuit for moving the pickers inside of their normal position to stopy the shuttles inside of their normal stopping position, an actuator for said rst mentioned means operated when said circuit is closed, and means for returning the pickers, said shuttles being stopped by thel pickers as the pickers are returning and moving them outwardly from the shuttles after the shuttles have stopped, said rst mentioned means including a latch normally disengaged during operation, means to cause engagement of said latch upon indication that the shuttles are to be changed, said latch being disengaged after saidshuttles have been stopped at the changing side of the loom.

3. A picker control mechanism for shuttle box change looms, of the type provided with an indicating box at one side of the loom provided with electrical ieeler means and with a circuit connected to said electrical feeler means which circuit is closed when the weft upon the shuttles in said connection box is almost exhausted and a changing box at the other side of the loom to which the shuttles are thrown from said indicating box, and which changing box containing the exhausted shuttles is replaced by a box with fresh shuttles when the weft on the operating shuttles is almost exhausted and also provided with a lay structure, shuttles, a lay connector, picker sticks and pickers moved by said picker stick, which comprises a push rod to move the picker stick, a lever mounted upon the lay structure to move said push rod, means to move said lever to move said picker stick, and thereby move the pickers, and means to actuate said last mentioned means only when an indication is given that the shuttles are to.be changed, said lever being actuated before said shuttles are receivedon the changing side of the loom.

4. A picker control mechanism for shuttle box change looms, of the type provided with a box at one side of the loom in which an indication is h ad when the shuttles are in said box and the weft should be replenished and a box at the other side of the loom to which the shuttles are thrown from said first box and in which the shuttles are to be changed to replenish the weft and also provided with a lay structure, shuttles, a lay connector, picker sticks and pickers moved by said picker stick, which comprises a push rod to move the picker stick, a lever mounted upon the lay structure to move said push rod, means to move said lever to move said picker stick, and thereby move the pickers,

and means to actuate said last mentioned means only when an indication is given that the shuttles are to be changed, said last mentioned means including a solenoid, a circuit closer arrangement actuated at the other side of the loom to close the circuit of the solenoid when the shuttles are to be changed, a latching arrangement controlled by said solenoid, a connection from the lay connector to actuate said latch arrangement and a lever arrangement to move the pickers controlled by said latch arrangement, said solenoid being energized before said shuttles are received in the box at the change side of the loom.

5. In combination in a loom, of the type provided with an indicating box at one side of the loom provided with electrical feeler means and with a circuit connected to said electrical feeler means which circuit is closed when the weft upon the shuttles in said connection box is a1- most exhausted and a changing box at the other side of the loom to which the shuttles are thrown from said indicating box, and which changing box containing the exhausted shuttles is replaced by a box with fresh shuttles when the weft on the operating shuttles is a1- most exhausted, a crank connecting rod, a

picker stick, a picker actuated by said picker stick, a push rod to move said picker stick, a lever to move said push rod, means actuated from the crank connecting rod to move said lever and means to cause engagement or release of said last mentioned means actuated only upon closure of said circuit. l

6. In combination in an automatic shuttle box changing loom, of the type provided with an indicating box at one side of the loom provided with electrical feeler means and with a circuit connected to said electrical feeler means which circuit is closed when the weft upon the shuttles in said connection box is almost exhausted and a changing box at the other side of the boom to which the lshuttles are thrown from said indicating box, and which changing box containing the exhausted shuttles is replaced by a box with fresh shuttles when the weft on the operating shuttles is ahnost exhausted, a picker stick, pickers, shuttles stopped by said pickers, means to move said pickers inwardly to stop the shuttles in advance of their usual positions actuated by said circuit, said moving means being actuated before said shuttles are received in said change box and while the shuttles are moving across the loom and means to release said pickers after said shuttles have stopped.

'1. In combination in an automatic shuttle box changing loom, of the type provided with a box at one side of the loom in which an indication is had when the shuttles are in said box and the weft should be replenished and a box at the other side of the loom to which the shuttles i" are thrown from said first box and in which the shuttles are to be changed to replenish the weft, a picker stick, 'a picker to stop the shuttle and provided with a recess to engage the spur of the shuttle, an indicating arrangement to indicate when the shuttles are to be changed, a solenoid having an armature and energized by said indi-` cator, a push -rod carried by the lay to move said picker stick, a lever mounted upon said lay to move said push rod, a latching lever pivotally mounted on the crank connector, said lever being provided with a downwardly extending iiange provided with an opening receiving said `latching bar, said latching bar normally passing through said opening without engaging the same, and ring means on said armature also provided with an opening receiving said latching bar to elevate said latching bar to cause engagement of the latching bar with said lever and movement of said lever to move said picker stick, when said solenoid is energized.

HENRY DOWNER JOHNSON, JR. WOODRUFF T. SULLIVAN. 

